MARTIAL LAW 1965 PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS
DURING THE MARCOS REGIME Marcos won the election with 51.94% of the
vote, Macapagal having garnered 42.88% while Raul
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. was Manglapus of the Party for Philippine Progress got
inaugurated to his first term as the Tenth President of 5.17%. About 0.01%. of the votes went to nine other
the Philippines on 30 December 1965. candidates who ran for the post under various
His inauguration marked the beginning of his two- independent parties.
decade long stay in power, even though the 1935 Upon winning the election, Marcos appointed a
Philippine Constitution had set a limit of only two cabinet composed mostly of technocrats and
four-year terms of office. intellectuals, most notably Executive Secretary
Rafael Salas, Education Secretary Onofre Corpuz,
Before Marcos' Presidency, the Philippines Finance Secrtetary Cesar Virata, and National
was the second largest economy in Asia, behind only Economic and Development Authority Director
Japan. He pursued an aggressive program of General Gerardo Sicat.
infrastructure development funded by foreign loans,
making him very popular throughout almost all of his
first term and eventually making him the first and
only President of the Third Philippine republic to win
a second term, although it would also trigger an
inflationary crisis which would lead to social unrest in
his second term, and would eventually lead to his
declaration of Martial Law in 1972.
Ferdinand Marcos was a member of the
Liberal Party (LP) in 1965, becoming Senate
President during the presidential term of fellow
Liberal Macapagal. Marcos found his ambitions to DEBTS, DEPRIVATION AND THE SPOILS
run for president blocked when Macapagal decided
to run for a second term, so Marcos jumped from the
OF DICTATORSHIP
LP to the Nacionalista Party (NP), eventually
becoming the NP's candidate for president.
An acknowledged "master of populist imagery",
Marcos projected a persona of youth and virility,
having himself photographed by rice farmers in their
fields. He also cast himself as a war hero, claiming to
be the "most decorated war hero of the Philippines"
on the strength of 27 supposed war medals and
decorations which were later revealed to be mostly
propaganda, being inaccurate or untrue.
DEBUNKING THE CLAIM
The former chief executive did not get that
grade, although he was the bar top notcher that year
with a score of 92.35%, as shown in the original copy
of the student paper and a news report in a national
daily in 1939.
Also, Marcos does not hold the record of having the
highest score in a bar examination, according to the
Supreme Court (SC)’s Office of the Bar Confidant.
“Based on the records of this Office, Ret. Justice
Florenz D. Regalado still holds the highest score in
the Philippine Bar Examinations with an average
score of 96.70% in 1954.
Various archival documents, army officers,
the US Army, and the National Historical
Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) have all
disproven the claim that Marcos was a guerrilla
leader during World War II. According to these
sources, the guerrilla unit was never recognized by
the US government, and Marcos’ leadership of the
supposed unit is questionable.
According to a New York Times archived article
dated January 23, 1986, “Between 1945 and 1948
various Army officers rejected Mr. Marcos’s two
requests for official recognition of the [guerrilla] unit,
calling his claims distorted, exaggerated, fraudulent,
contradictory, and absurd.” American army
investigators concluded that the unit did not exist.
EDUCATIONAL REFORMS
Marcos believed that education was a very
important role towards the goal of the “New Society”.
President Marcos vowed that his
administration “shall educate our children, our men
and women, and ourselves”
Educational Development Decree of 1972 –
defines a more responsive role for the educational
system
ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Economic Prosperity during the 1970’s and
the early 1980’s
Farmers had “price support” and financial
support (Diosdado Macapagal’s Program)
Self-sufficient in rice exports (Diosdado Macapagal’s
Program)
“Kilusang Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran”
(Diosdado Macapagal’s Program)
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) LAND
REFORM PROGRAM
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
was created to expedite the transfer of land titles to
the peasants.
Tenants are given 3 hectares of irrigated rice
or corn lands and 5 hectares if unirrigated. OPEN
DOOR POLICY
This policy was mainly focused on the trade
and cultural relations and started trading with
countries with Russia, China and other socialist
countries.
It was a cautious “open-door policy” and built
up relations with countries who were enemies with
the United States.
Being the “Iron Butterfly” (Imelda Marcos), At one point, student activists took over the
with the use of her charm, went on foreign trips to Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines
open trade relationships, exchange culture and get and declared it a free commune, which lasted for a
financial assistance. SO, WHAT IS “NEW while before the government dissolved it. Violent
SOCIETY”? protesting continued over the next few years until the
declaration of martial law in 1972. The event was
Certain habits/behaviors of the people popularly known as the First Quarter Storm.
contribute to the obstacles of modernization. During the First Quarter Storm in 1970, the
1. Ethic of “utang na loob” line between leftist activists and communists became
2. 2. Colonial mentality increasingly blurred, as a significant number of
3. 3. In-group harmony and coherence Kabataang Makabayan ('KM') advanced activists
joined the party of the Communist Party also founded
A spirit of self-sacrifice for the progress of the by Jose Maria Sison. KM members protested in front
nation was needed. of Congress, throwing a coffin, a stuffed alligator,
and stones at Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos after his
State of the Nation Address.
On the presidential palace, activists rammed
the gate with a fire truck and once the gate broke
and gave way, the activists charged into the Palace
grounds tossing rocks, pillboxes and Molotov
cocktails.
In the aftermath of the January 1970 riots, at
least two activists were confirmed dead and several
were injured by the police.
The death of the activists was seized by the
Lopez controlled Manila Times and Manila Chronicle,
blaming Marcos and added fire to the weekly
protests. Students declared a week-long boycott of
classes and instead met to organize protest rallies.
WHAT TRIGGERED THIS EVENT?
The KM advocated for unity against and
liberation from American imperialism, which "made
the suffering of [the] people more complex and more
severe.“
The protest was largely peaceful until the end
of the planned program, when a disagreement broke
out between the moderate and the radical groups for
control over the protest stage. This disagreement
was ongoing when Marcos, having finished his
speech, walked out of the legislative building.
January 26, 1970 - Rioters crowd Marcos and
company as they enter his limousine.
Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda Marcos
escaped to the presidential limousine, leaving the
police - consisting of the Manila Police District (MPD)
and elements of the Philippine Constabulary
Metropolitan Command (METROCOM) - to disperse
the crowd.
This led to hours of bloody confrontation
between the protesters and the police, ending with at WHAT IS MARTIAL LAW?
least two students confirmed dead and several more
injured. Martial law is an extreme and rare measure
used to control society during war or periods of civil
unrest or chaos.
PLAZA MIRANDA BOMBING
Martial law is the imposition of military power
over designated regions on an emergency basis.
On August 21, 1971, the Liberal Party held a
Martial law is usually imposed on a temporary
campaign rally at the Plaza Miranda to proclaim their
basis when the civilian government or civilian
Senatorial bets and their candidate for the Mayoralty
authorities fail to function effectively (e.g.,
of Manila. Two grenades were reportedly tossed on
maintaining order and security, or providing essential
stage, injuring almost everybody present. As a result,
services), when there are extensive riots and
Marcos suspended the writ of habeas corpus to
protests, or when the disobedience of the law
arrest those behind the attack. He rounded up a list
becomes widespread. Fundamentally it is a
of supposed suspects, Escabas, and other
requirement put on civilian government when they
undesirables to eliminate rivals in the Liberal Party.
fail to function correctly.
Marcos accused the communist movement
as the perpetrators of the bombing, and responded
by suspending the writ of habeas corpus. WHAT IS THE LEGAL BASIS OF SUCH?
Article VII, Section 18 - The President shall
be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of
the Philippines and whenever it becomes necessary,
he may call out such armed forces to prevent or
suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion. In
case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety
requires it, he may, for a period not exceeding sixty
days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas
corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof
under martial law. Within forty-eight hours from the
proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, the President
shall submit a report in person or in writing to the
Congress. The Congress, voting jointly, by a vote of
at least a majority of all its Members in regular or
special session, may revoke such proclamation or
suspension, which revocation shall not be set aside
by the President. Upon the initiative of the President,
the Congress may, in the same manner, extend such
proclamation or suspension for a period to be
determined by the Congress, if the invasion or
rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.
WHAT IS WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS?
The "Great Writ" of habeas corpus is a
fundamental right in the Constitution that protects
against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment.
Translated from Latin it means "show me the
body." Habeas corpus has historically been an
important instrument to safeguard individual freedom
against arbitrary executive power.
ANOTHER REMEDIES TO PROTECT ME.
The petition for a writ of Amparo is a remedy
available to any person whose right to life, liberty and
security is violated or threatened with violation by an
unlawful act or omission of a public official or
employee, or of a private individual or entity.
Writ of Habeas Data - is a judicial remedy
available to any individual whose right to privacy in
life, liberty, or security is violated or threatened by an
unlawful act or omission of a public official or
employee or of a private individual or entity engaged
in gathering, collecting, or storing of data or
information regarding the person, family, home, and
correspondence of the aggrieved party.
1973 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTIONAL
PLEBISCITE
Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 86
calling for the cancellation of the plebiscite and
instituted barangays' citizens' assemblies to ratify the DEATH OF HIS “UPSILONIAN
new constitution by a referendum from 10–15 BRETHREN”
January 1973. Alongside the utilization of citizens'
assemblies, the voting age was also reduced to 15. Aquino's death transformed the Philippine
Voting in citizens' assemblies took place through viva opposition from a small isolated movement to a
voce voting (or live voice), similar to parliamentary massive unified crusade, incorporating people from
procedure, rather than the standard secret ballot that all walks of life. The middle class got involved, the
had been used up until that point. impoverished majority participated, and business
leaders whom Marcos had irked during martial law
endorsed the campaign—all with the crucial support
of the military and the Catholic Church hierarchy.
The mass revolt caused by Aquino's demise
attracted worldwide media attention and Marcos's
American contacts, as well as the Reagan
administration, began distancing themselves.
EDSA PEOPLE POWER
The People Power Revolution of 1986 was a
series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines,
mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22–25, 1986.
There was a sustained campaign of civil
resistance against regime violence and electoral
fraud. The nonviolent revolution led to the departure
of Ferdinand Marcos, the end of his 20-year
presidential term and the restoration of democracy in
the Philippines.
The revolution provided for the restoration of
democratic institutions after thirteen years of
totalitarian rule and these institutions has been used
by various groups to challenge the entrenched
political families and to strengthen Philippine
democracy.
The People Power Revolution has inspired a
call for a change of government through peaceful
protests rather than bloodshed. Many similar
revolutions have followed since then, taking the
Philippine example of nonviolent regime change,
such as that in East Germany and many other former
Soviet Bloc countries. It also helped inspire the Arab
Spring in 2011.
THINGS THAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER
The People Power Revolution gave rise to
personalities who have become important names in
the nation’s history. But do not let political
propaganda brainwashes your critical thinking.
The use of the color began as reference to
the song “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak
Tree,” a song intended for then senator Aquino’s
homecoming after his exile in the US. It was later on
adopted by the opposition, in contrast to the Marcos
administration’s red motif. EDSA is a symbol and a
good example of our values and principles as a
Filipino. Remember, it is not Yellow, or Red; Green
or Blue. Dahil ang pagiging makabayan ay walang
kulay na pinapanigan.
